C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

The Pulley

WHEN God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessings standing by,—

“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can:

Let the world’s riches, which dispersed lie,

Contract into a span.”

So Strength first made a way;

Then Beauty flowed, then Wisdom, Honor, Pleasure:

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that alone of all his treasure

Rest in the bottom lay.

“For if I should,” said he,

“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,

He would adore my gifts instead of me,

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:

So both should losers be.

“Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness:

Let him be rich and weary, that at least,

If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

May toss him to my breast.”